Syntax: The Sentence Patterns of Language

01:615:201 Introduction to Linguistic Theory Adam Szczegielniak syntax : The Sentence Patterns of Language Copyright in part: Cengage learning Learning Goals Hierarchical Sentence structure Word categories X- bar Ambiguity Recursion Transforma=ons syntax Any speaker of any human Language can produce and understand an infinite number of possible sentences Thus, we can t possibly have a mental dictionary of all the possible sentences Rather, we have the rules for forming sentences stored in our brains syntax is the part of grammar that pertains to a speaker s knowledge of sentences and their structures What the syntax Rules Do The rules of syntax combine words into phrases and phrases into sentences They specify the correct word order for a Language For example, English is a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO)

The boy saw the man with the telescope. • The meanings are: – 1. The boy used the telescope to see the man – 2. The boy saw the man who had a telescope • Each of these meanings can be represented by a di#erent phrase structure tree – The two interpretations are possible because the PS rules allow

Loading..

Tags:

  Syntax, Telescope

Information

Related search queries